Roseanne Apologizes to Gays: "Let Me Have It!"

Roseanne Barr arriving at The Trevor Project holiday awards benefit last December.

Roseanne Barr has offered an apology to all the gays everywhere for some indelicate comments she made earlier this week on her radio show. A few days back, Roseanne accused gays of being totally narcissistic and only caring about causes and issues which affect the gay community.

What she said was: "Never once in my 54 years have I ever once heard a gay or lesbian person who's politically active say one thing about anything that was not about them. They don't care about minimum wage, they don't care about any other group other than their own self..." Promptly, she was called out by Chuck Wolfe of the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, who said: "Roseanne Barr has defamed the hundreds of openly gay and lesbian elected and appointed officials who go to work every day to improve schools, make streets safer and better their communities."

You're right, Chuck. And, yes it's a careless thing to say, but I think I know what she meant. Gays do focus pretty wholly on our own issues; but hey, we've got a lot to fight about. But also, Roseanne's a loud, brash comedian who's actively supported us for years... Isn't she allowed to make a bit of fun of the gays? On her own website, Roseanne lists The Trevor Project as a link. Her classic sitcom featured same-sex kisses and gay weddings over ten years ago; she always lends her support to gay rights groups. And, drag hellion Jackie Beat's the opening act on her current tour, for gay's sake.

Still, Roseanne posted an apology on her own site, eagerly making making herself target of her humor. Here's what she said...

I deeply regret that I have offended gay people. I said things that I do not really mean, before I had thought them through... I was wrong and I seriously apologize!

Call me up today and let me have it! I will apologize and try to make clear what I really meant to say... which was that everybody needs to unite right now, and step outside of their own neighborhoods, groups, races and classes to stop Bush's war on our country and our people. I love gays and I hate division. I am just a big idiot with a big mouth sometimes. I will learn to be more careful! Please forgive me, I am so sorry!!!!

Let's all leave our own bedrooms, kitchens, neighborhoods and groups and meet each other to form a diverse army that stands for Democracy and Economic Justice!!!!

And trust... I used to work for Roseanne years ago. And she was always a peach to me; so I'm biased. And I love seeing her on Real Time with Bill Maher these days. She's a great (if scattered) lefty commentator. Besides, Roseanne's always had one foot in her mouth her entire career... It's kind of why it's refreshing to have her still mouthing off. And apologizing when she needs to.

Roseanne and her good bud, Alexis Arquette. Muah!

Comments

[Stephanie]

She really was being honest. And everyone knows even if they don't want to agree with her that what she's saying does have some truth to it. I've always liked her and i still do. Her new show America's funniest Mom 3 is pretty good too. And Hal Sparks is a judge but i'm totally not biased :p